LibraryTrax

TechTracks: Emerging Technology Training for Public Library Staff

New Web 2.0 technologies are becoming commonplace on the Internet and in the personal and professional lives of library users. Librarians need to know how these technologies can improve library services. TechTrack classes are designed to:

· Provide a basic understanding of the technology and its usefulness

· Offer hands-on instruction – Participants will create a free, personal application of the technology in class

· Examine issues and concerns for implementing the technology in the public library

Format:

• Two-hour workshops will be conducted at the Greenville, Florence, and Charleston County Libraries and in Columbia.

Who should attend:

• Staff who work directly with the public

Workshops will cover:

• Blogging: Reading and subscribing to blogs using RSS feeds. Participants will create a personal blog.

Dates/ Locations:

Greenville – November 2 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Charleston – November 9 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00p.m.

Florence – November 16 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Columbia – November 14 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Register Here

• Tagging: Understanding and using tagging in photosharing and other web applications, and in new library systems. Participants will create a Flickr account.

Dates/ Locations:

Greenville – December 6 (*2:00-4:00p.m. only*)

Charleston – December 7 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Florence – December 5 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Columbia – December 13 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Register Here

• Social software and the Millenials: Understanding the audience and underlying social principles for web applications such as MySpace. Participants will create a wiki.

Dates/ Locations:

Greenville – January 10 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Charleston – January 11 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Florence – January 9 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Columbia - January 18 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Register Here

• Instant Messaging: Understanding IM and establishing a library IM reference service; protocol and how-to tips. Participants will set up a personal IM account.

Dates/ Locations:

Greenville – February 1 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Charleston – February 8 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Florence – February 6 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Columbia - February 13 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Register Here

• Podcasting/vodcasting: Using podcasts and videos as library promotional tools; step by step instruction on creating a podcast and using YouTube.

Dates/ Locations:

Greenville – March 1 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Charleston – March 8 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Florence – March 6 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Columbia – March 7 (10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. -OR- 2:00-4:00)

Register Here

More Information

First of all, a huge thanks to everyone who attended the rural library sustainability workshop on Wednesday at RCPL. You were so full of great ideas and information. I left feeling very excited about the future of libraries in our state. Here are the notes from our brainstorming session on Outreach, Advocacy, Library Connections and Training.

Outreach

• The following groups were identified as already being reached via outreach programs: children (via schools, daycares and afterschool programs); parents; caregivers; delinquent/abused teens; homeschoolers; first steps; seniors (via churches, senior centers, adult daycares and nursing homes); mentally disabled adults (via a social services facility); teens; college students; community service groups (offering programs by request).
• Some potential partners identified for outreach: DSS, adult literacy groups, ESL groups, employers of immigrants.
• Groups not yet reached: schools, business community, homebound, hispanic population.
• Other ideas mentioned: adopt a troop, books in a Doctor’s office, story time offered in a Doctor’s office.

Advocacy

• Current advocates identified: current/former board members, employees and Friend officers; Director; Chamber of Commerce; developers (land, economic); news media; realtors; local sports players.
• What are we advocating for? funding, cooperation and services.
• The challenge: direction and priorities in the message.
• Other ideas for great advocates: teens, parents, children, city leaders.

Library Connections

• Partners: schools, preschools, daycares, library associations, government (on all levels), literacy groups, Friends of the Library, senior facilities, experts, college and tech schools, state library, civic/fraternal organizations, arts council, first steps, professional interest groups, chamber of commerce, museums, political reps, foundations, listservs/blogs.
• Potential partners: business community, different cultural groups, hispanic populations.

Staff & Patron Training

• Ideas for training: limit computer classes to 12 people or less so everyone can have a computer and so you are able to give one-on-one attention; pair teens with seniors for computer training classes; teach patrons how to use downloadable audiobooks.
• Question #1 raised: How do I balance the needs of patrons with different skill levels?
  • Ideas: advertise pre-reqs for the class; offer one-on-one training; have floaters in the room who can provide additional assistance.
• Question #2 raised: How do I give seniors training?
  • Ideas: limit the class size or offer one-on-one training; seek a grant that will provide you with resources to offer an intensive training course. Here’s an example:
  • Kathy Sheppard from Library Development talked about a grant her former library received to teach seniors in a six-week computer skills training. They offered the courses and recorded them, giving each participant a video/dvd at the end that they could watch over and over again. Many of the seniors went through the class more than once, making it a very successful program. All funded by a grant!
• Question #3 raised: How do I train my staff?
• Ideas: make the most of staff days; when a new employee starts, use it as an opportunity to train everyone; make everyone an expert in something — this will help with orienting new employees and give everyone someone to go to when they need help in a certain area; use resources in the state — other libraries, the state library, teens, experts in your area, etc.; if someone wants to learn something new, give them time to play and then ask them to teach everyone!

I hope these notes help everyone. I can’t wait to see what the new two groups will come up with!

I received an email today from one of our rural library directors, asking if I’ve noticed a trend in public libraries cutting their materials budgets in order to meet the state regulation that requires their budgets be in balanced proportions.

The answer, sadly, is yes. Libraries simply cannot afford to cut staff, and there are many fixed costs in operations, so the materials budget seems the logical and easy place to trim.

The reality is that many of our counties have been hit hard by the loss of business, a migration of the population, rising fuel costs, etc. It’s hard to lay blame. Many struggle with supporting all their public services, not just the library. Still, when I see counties that don’t raise their support at all, over a period of years, it’s hard not to wonder where the money is going. I know of one county (a rural one) where one of its city managers makes a higher salary than the entire appropriation for the county library. That’s sad. It’s not that I think the salary is unjustified, but what was it that Spock said in one of the Star Trek movies: “The good of the many outweighs the good of the few or the one.”

What’s the answer? I wish I knew. Advocacy? Grant writing? Leprachauns and their hidden gold? Let’s talk about it!